Tangible sustainability
Embed tangible sustainability across the board
We’re leveling up our robust, science-based sustainability credentials.
Sustainable beauty
Caring for ourselves means caring for our world
Wellbeing that doesn’t cost the Earth
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and so are the challenges facing society. As the climate crisis continues to put pressure on people and the planet and inequality continues to rise, it’s no surprise that customers, consumers, and regulators are demanding change.
That’s why dsm-firmenich Beauty & Care is committed to creating, sourcing, and delivering sustainable solutions, based on science that works for us now while respecting our planet for generations to come. Across skin care, hair care, and sun care, this is how we bring progress to life.
We put people and the planet first
Together with customers and partners, we prioritize responsible sourcing, sustainable operations, and innovative solutions.
Three core goals
Future-proof portfolio
Grow our science-backed sustainable portfolio
We champion sustainable innovation throughout the development process, while future-proofing our portfolio.
Two-way trust
Build trust as a sustainability partner
We leverage our track record to meet customer and market sustainability needs and build successful partnerships.
Four focus areas
At Beauty & Care, we’ve got our eyes on the prize: a more sustainable world. To guide our journey toward our goals, we’re led by the four points of our compass.
Healthy beauty and planet
Good for us, good for the planet.
Green transformation
Getting under the skin of the green revolution.
Inclusive beauty
Giving old beauty standards a much-needed makeover.
Transparency and accountability
We're an open book. Clearly.
Healthy beauty and planet
Good for us, good for the planet
Key consumer trends
55%
of consumers consider planet and climate change to be one of their top three concerns in daily life.
67%
of consumers consider health to be one of their top three priorities in daily life – and 35% put mental wellbeing in their top three.
46%
of personal care consumers believe their skin health reflects their overall health.
50%
of UK consumers say beauty brands need to use sustainably sourced ingredients to be considered sustainable.
49%
of UK consumers say it’s becoming socially unacceptable to buy beauty and grooming ingredients that are bad for the environment.
Vitamins
An iconic symbol of health: trusted by consumers, scientifically proven, and sustainably produced.
NIACINAMIDE PC
Readily biodegradable and sustainably produced, using a unique process and bio-based raw material. This enables over 60% naturality and lowers the ingredient's carbon footprint.
VITAMIN C
Boasts a naturality of 100% and one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. Ours is produced in Dalry, Scotland, using state-of-the-art digital solutions that valorize 90% of the waste.
VITAMIN E
Produced with minimal waste in Sisseln, Switzerland, powered by renewable energy from a biomass wood-chip-fired power plant. This reduces the footprint by 56% (according to LCA) compared to coal-based production supply.
Peptides
Because green (chemistry) looks good on you. Our smart peptides are at the forefront of the clean beauty movement – delivering sensational skin benefits with a lower footprint.
SYN®-COLL CB
Our naturally derived Clean Beauty peptide for sustainable formulations reverses visible signs of aging, boosts collagen, and protects it from degradation. This peptide sculpts the face for a firmer, lifted, and refined skin appearance with less visible pores.
SYN®-COLL CB is produced through a green chemistry reaction type with shorter synthesis and without CMR solvents or reagents, to prioritize worker safety.
Plus, it’s manufactured in Europe with 100% purchased renewable electricity, with a carbon footprint of 5.2 kg CO2 eq/kg and at least 99% natural-origin ingredients.
SYN-UP®
This unique peptide unlocks the skin’s natural potential from within by rebalancing plasmin levels, thereby improving the skin's barrier function. It fights dryness, sensitivity, and redness while protecting against collagen degradation, to leave skin looking smoother and firmer.
SYN-UP® is produced through a green chemistry reaction type, including solvent recovery for minimal waste.
What’s more, it’s manufactured in Switzerland with 100% renewable electricity, a carbon footprint of 5.2 kg CO2 eq/kg, and at least 99% natural-origin ingredients.
Micro-organisms
Small-but-mighty micro-organisms aren’t just good for the skin: they’re also contributing to the transition to a circular, bio-based economy.
PEPHA®-TIGHT CB
This concentrated Clean Beauty mixture combines the unique properties of three powerful ingredients: the microalgae grown in photobiography bioreactors, pullulan, and pentylene glycol. All are produced by biotechnologies, fully naturally derived (Cosmos approved), and renewable.
Vitamin B12
A biotech, naturally derived pink vitamin produced through non-GMO bacterial fermentation – perfect for sensitive and stressed skin.
Naturals
Just because an ingredient is natural doesn’t mean it’s more sustainable. That’s why we’re committed to making natural actives better for people and planet – thanks to innovative upcycling, regenerative farming, alternative extraction methods, and more.
ETERWELL™ YOUTH
Made with the rare Epilobium fleischeri plant, ETERWELL™ YOUTH is an infinite well-aging experience, powered by senolytic science. Better yet, this game-changing extract for holistic skin health is sustainable, organic, traceable, low environmental impact, and fair-trade certified.
Preserving Swiss alpine biodiversity
Cosmos/Natrue-certified ingredient
Aligned with the Union Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) Responsible sourcing and Ethical practices
Fair for Life fair-trade certified. Transparent and traceable supply chain from seeds to bioactive.
Ethical relationship with smallholders
Carbon footprint: less than 3kg CO2eq/kg.
Application of green chemistry principles
UV filters
Sunscreen might be essential for people, but it’s not always ideal for our planet. We’re big believers in sun care that protects our world as well as ourselves – and we’re working to deliver the solutions we need.
Protecting against UV radiation
We use our broad portfolio and scientific and formulation expertise to create high-performing sunscreens such as PARSOL® EHT, Shield, and 1789, combining UVA, UVB, and broadband protection.
Supporting a healthier society
The Destination Healthy Skin RV travels around the USA to provide communities with free full-body skin cancer screenings by local volunteer dermatologists.
Taking responsibility for our planet
With our free online Sunscreen Optimizer, formulators can develop the most efficient and eco-friendly sunscreen for their needs – while ensuring a sensorial profile that people will love to apply every day.
Green transformation
Getting under the skin of the green revolution
Future-proofing our portfolio
When it comes to personal care, we’re anything but short sighted. In fact, we’re always looking ahead to the next generation of essential, desirable, sustainable solutions.
In the short term, that means optimizing our processes and feedstock selection to help our customers meet their sustainability targets. Meanwhile, we’re playing the long game: innovating next-gen solutions for a brighter future, developing bio-based and responsibly sourced products, and designing low-impact processes that respect the environment.
Inclusive beauty
Giving old beauty standards a much-needed makeover
Because everyone deserves to feel good in their own skin
No two people are the same – so why should there be a one-size-fits-all approach to beauty?
The industry has long had an image problem when it comes to diversity and inclusion, but in Beauty & Care, we want consumers of all ages and all backgrounds to feel seen. Listened to. Represented. And provided for. That's why we develop products that meet the needs of diverse skin and hair types.
Key consumer trends
34%
of adults struggle to find beauty products that meet their needs.
42%
of adults feel represented in the beauty space.
ULocks
For many consumers with textured hair, the quest for the products they need can be frustrating or even fruitless. Thanks to its unique Double Lock technology combination and simple routine, our ULocks lineup addresses this imbalance, makes hair care a pleasure, and lets natural beauty shine through.
Wonder You
The menopause might have a bad reputation, but there’s no doubt that it’s a significant chapter in life’s rich story. With its powerful combination of high-performance ingredients, our Wonder You range is designed to care for skin and scalp during hormonal changes – helping to empower women and boost wellbeing.
Transparency and accountability
We're an open book. Clearly.
Sometimes, labels are a good thing
Knowing that your favorite beauty product is effective on your skin is one thing. Understanding its impact on the world around you is quite another. But today’s consumers are increasingly asking for transparency on the social and environmental credentials of the products they purchase – and increasingly open to switching away from brands that don’t live up to their expectations. At Beauty & Care, our focus on transparency and traceability means we’re helping customers bridge the gap.
Key consumer trends
34%
of consumers say labeling that shows a product's impact relative to CO2 emitted would encourage them to purchase. Source: Kantar profiles / Mintel, April 2022
67%
of millennials prefer to buy from brands with sustainable credentials. Source: study FirstInsight –2021.
54%
of German consumers say they don't trust companies to be honest about their environmental impact. Source: Mintel 2023
Committed to transparency: Our Imp’Act Card™
Say hello to the Beauty & Care Imp’Act Card™: as part of our commitment to transparency, this initiative builds on recognized standards and the UN SDGs, enables our customers to step up their eco-design processes, and supports transparency in the wider value chain.
- Global approach to environmental and social topics
- Digital version launched in 2023
- Now available for 80% of Beauty & Care products
Other activities
Driving value change transformation
Engaging with customers on their key sustainability targets
We work with our customers, leveraging our expertise to help them meet their sustainability commitments.
Contributing to industry product labeling / scoring
Our experts contribute on topics including biodegradability and ecotoxicity, naturality, and LCA.
Promoting our sustainable message
We advocate across channels and industry press.
Reinforcing our position as a sustainability partner
We participate at key external events.
Promoting internal advocacy
Through our network of Sustain’Ablers.